The fact that the CBI is fully committed to the other 14 diploma lines seems to have been neglected in media reports on the matter.

While the debate between this well respected employer organisation and government will continue, it is important to report that employers in the Leeds City region are very much involved in shaping the new Diploma Programmes.

Employers are contributing to the applied learning, providing work placements and developing new projects for the level three A-level equivalent students.

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is supportive of the Diploma Programme as are the vast majority of the business community, since it is the employer dominated Sector Skills Councils that are at the forefront of the diploma developments.

The Leeds Skills Board has fully endorsed the Diploma Programme and Leeds Chamber is working with Education Leeds to co-ordinate the employer engagement for Leeds students in the first two diploma pilots, namely Creative and Media and Construction and the Built Environment, which start in September.

There is no shortage of interest from employers, large and small, and with progression routes into Further and Higher Education now clearly signposted the diplomas will soon become well respected and valued, just like GCSEs and A-Levels.

Over the next two years the Government will be promoting and marketing the new courses and qualifications and perhaps rectifying the perceived absence of good quality information and publicity for this very important new transformational education initiative.

At the same time the Leeds Skills Board, Education Leeds and Leeds Chamber will be promoting new diplomas in Land-based and Environmental, IT, Engineering, Society, Health and Development, Manufacturing, Hair and Beauty, Business, Administration and Finance and they are inviting employers to get involved in these new programmes.

To find out more, contact Sally Spawforth at Leeds Chamber on (0113) 247 0000.